Psychological bingo game

ABSTRACT

A psychological bingo game having a grid, made up of numerous individual spaces arranged in rows and columns. Each of the individual spaces are designated with a word or group of words. The words  22  are all answers to questions that are posed to a patient-player. Also included in the game is a plurality of question cards, each card having an incomplete statement. When playing the game, an incomplete statement is posed to a patient-player and the individual space on the grid containing his or her response is marked. The game is continued until the individual spaces in a complete column, row or diagonal line are marked. Once the game is complete, a diagnosis may be made according to the groups of responses given by the patient-player.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention relates to a psychological bingo game. More particularly, the invention relates to a game which is based upon the game of bingo, where spaces on the board are marked as an answer to a series of questions, and when a full row is marked, a particular psychological diagnosis is indicated thereby.

[0002] From childhood, the idea of playing a game is associated with fun. Even when adults play games, they are typically distracted from problems and conscious thoughts by the act of playing the game. Accordingly, a task or activity is often couched in terms of “a game” as a way of distracting the player from the true purpose—which may be actually a training exercise, a chore, or a learning experience.

[0003] For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,458,338 to Beardsley discloses a game which is played somewhat like the game of bingo, which aims to teach english grammar. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 4,021,937 to Kravitz discloses a educational game which helps teach English composition skills.

[0004] Games can also serve a rehabilitative purpose. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,878,675 to Perry et al., discloses an educational and amusement game which seeks to teach the hazards and pitfalls associated with the use of addictive substances such as alcohol, tobacco, and drugs.

[0005] One area of particular suitability for game playing is psychoanalysis. In this field, patients are traditionally reluctant to share feelings, thoughts, opinions, and facts which are of importance to successful diagnosis and treatment. A game could be particularly effective in allaying the fears of the patient, and convincing the patient to share thoughts and speak frankly where they might otherwise not be so forthcoming. Several games traditionally and even stereotypically available to therapists, such as ink blot description and role playing, are well known to patients and are associated by them with psychotherapy, and thus are not fooled by the apparent game-like setting. Accordingly, when playing such “games”, the patient will often still be “on guard”, knowing that his or her actions and utterances are being analyzed. However, to date few games have been developed which effectively aid in diagnosis while providing the patient with a familiar game-like setting which puts the patient at ease.

[0006] While these units may be suitable for the particular purpose employed, or for general use, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention as disclosed hereafter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] It is an object of the invention to provide a game which aids in psychoanalysis by asking a patient-player a series of questions which when answered in a certain manner can lead to a diagnosis.

[0008] It is another object of the invention to provide a game which is familiar to the patient-player in a manner that is associated by the patient-player as being a fun game rather than a psychoanalytical game. Accordingly, the game according to the present invention is based loosely on the popular game of “bingo”.

[0009] It is yet another object of the game to effectively serve its psychoanalytical purposes. Accordingly, spaces on the board are marked following an appropriate answer to a question by the patient-player.

[0010] It is yet a further object of the invention that important diagnosis are reached through playing the game, accordingly, the game board is configured so that answers which lead to a particular diagnosis are arranged in a row, so that when several answers arranged in the row are given, a particular diagnosis is indicated.

[0011] It is a still further object of the invention that the board spaces are coded, so that the patient-player does not know what diagnosis is being indicated or strengthened by his or her answers. Accordingly, the game board relies on the familiar bingo grid of letters and numbers, wherein only the administrator knows the significance of a particular row of answers.

[0012] To the accomplishment of the above and related objects the invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Attention is called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only. Variations are contemplated as being part of the invention, limited only by the scope of the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] In the drawings, like elements are depicted by like reference numerals. The drawings are briefly described as follows.

[0014]FIG. 1 is a top plan view, illustrating a game board according to the present invention.

[0015]FIG. 2 is a top plan view, illustrating question cards according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0016]FIG. 1 illustrates a game board 10, comprising a grid 12, made up of numerous individual spaces 14, arranged in rows 16 and columns 18. There are four columns 18, as well as five rows 16, including a top row 16T situated above the columns 18. A title 20 for the game board 10, namely “ME BINGO”, is spelled out within the top row 16T.

[0017] Each of the individual spaces 14 are designated with a word or group of words 22 which represent an “answer”. Each answer is unique to its individual space 14, and is not repeated within the grid 12. The answers 22 are all in response to questions that are posed to a patient-player.

[0018] To be used along with the grid 12 is a plurality of question cards 24, as illustrated in FIG. 2. Each question card 24 has an incomplete statement 26. Corresponding responses are supplied by the words 22 on the grid 12. Once the statement 26 is posed to the patient-player, the individual space 14 on the grid 12 containing his or her response is marked. The game is continued until four individual spaces 14 situated in a straight line are marked. By way of example, a complete column, row or diagonal line marked indicates the end of the game.

[0019] Once the game is complete, a diagnosis may be made according to the groups of responses given by the patient-player. For example, in the grid shown, selection of all of the answers in the first, second or third rows would signify depression, whereas answers in the third row would indicate that depression is not indicated in that patient-player. Different grids 12 and question cards 24 may be employed to diagnose different disorders or psychological conditions. The grid 12 and cards 24 displayed in the FIGS. 1 and 2 are intended to diagnose depression in a patient-player.

[0020] In conclusion, herein is presented a psychological bingo game. The invention is illustrated by example in the drawing figures, and throughout the written description. It should be understood that numerous variations are possible, while adhering to the inventive concept. Such variations are contemplated as being a part of the present invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A psychological bingo game, for the purpose of diagnosing a psychological condition or disorder, comprising: a game board in the form of a grid, said grid comprising numerous individual spaces arranged in rows and columns, wherein the individual spaces contain words; and a plurality of question cards containing incomplete statements.
 2. The psychological bingo game as recited in claim 1, wherein the words contained in the individual spaces are possible responses to the incomplete statements on the question cards.
 3. A method of playing a psychological bingo game, wherein the game comprises a grid having numerous individual spaces arranged in rows and columns, said spaces containing words, and questions cards having incomplete statements printed thereon, comprising the steps of: choosing a question card and reading the incomplete statement thereon to a patient-player; marking the individual space on the grid containing the response to the statement given by the patient-player; continuing the above two steps until the individual spaces in a complete column, row or diagonal line are marked; analyzing the responses marked in order to make a diagnosis as to a psychological condition or disorder. 